A trail of damage could be seen everywhere in Brahmanbaria, resulting from the mayhem centring the daylong hartal called by Hefajat-e-Islam on Sunday.

The smell of burnt remnants of establishments that bore the brunt of the destruction was everywhere. Arson and vandalism was carried out in at least 50 government and non-government institutions including two temples, Ustad Alauddin Khan Music Academy, land office, Zila Parishad and municipality offices, municipality auditorium, Muktijoddha Complex Bhaban, district's government public library and residences of the district's top Awami League leaders.

Brahmanbaria Press Club, police station, and intercity train on Dhaka-Chattogram route were also not spared.

A tense situation still prevails across the district.

Three persons were killed and at least 40 people, including police personnel, were injured in the sporadic clashes between those observing Hefajat's hartal and law enforcers on Sunday.

Qawmi madrasa-based organisation Hefajat-e-Islam called the daylong shutdown on Sunday, protesting Indian Premier Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh.

Picketers initiated their mayhem soon after 9:30am in the morning, launching arson attacks and vandalism at different government and municipality offices, followed by similar attacks at Anandamoyee Kali Bari temple, Dakshin Kali Bari temple, district AL office, municipality office and auditorium, public library, Muktijodda Sangsad Bhaban, other offices and entities, and residences of ruling party leaders in Brahmanbaria.

After 11:00am, they carried out arson attacks at Zila Parishad Bhaban, Ustad Alauddin Khan Music Academy, land office, among others. The blaze burned down everything at the music academy and all documents and records at the ground floor of the land office.

Several similar arson attacks were carried out in Ashuganj and Sarail areas of the district till around 1:00am on Sunday. Rail communication on Dhaka-Chattogram and Dhaka-Sylhet routes was halted for some time as hartal observers placed blocks on the rail tracks.

They also threw brick chips at Sonar Bangla Express Train as it arrived at the station, causing damage to the engine and compartments. Later it was moved to safety at Bhairab railway junction, said Station Master Shoaib Ahmed.

Anisur Rahman, senior assistant superintendent of police (Sarail Circle), confirmed the developments to The Daily Star.

Hefajat's central Nayeb-e-Amir Sazidur Rahman, who led protest processions observing the shutdown on Sunday, alleged that madrasa students were attacked without provocation by participants of a rally of the local lawmaker on Saturday, which led to tension that culminated in sporadic clashes.

Local lawmaker RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury demanded judicial enquiry into the mayhem, alleging that a third vested quarter was also involved in it alongside Hefajat activists, and that policemen remained inactive during the carnage.